For more info...
-
Encyclopedia of the U.S. CensusSee the entry under "History of Decennial Censuses". Includes bibliography for each census.
Historical Census Populations of Counties and Cities in California
-
Population Totals by Township and Place for California Counties: 1860 to 1950This report shows decennial census data on the population of California counties by minor civil division (usually townships) and place from 1860 to 1950, which is the period for which data on township population were published for California. This period also covers major historical developments in California’s settlement patterns and population distribution as the State’s population grew extremely rapidly in most decades, from 380,000 in 1860 to 10.6 million in 1950. Townships refer to judicial townships, and places include, for example, incorporated cities and towns, and unincorporated places. For each county, the data are shown in hierarchal fashion, with townships and their component places (or place parts). In addition, places in each county are listed in alphabetical order, with township parts where places crossed township boundaries.
-
Historical Census Populations of Counties and Incorporated Cities in California, 1850–2010Total population counts for the state, counties, and incorporated cities in California from seventeen decennial U.S. censuses, 1850–2010.
Raw Data Files
These are computer files intended to be loaded into statistical software for analysis and creating your own tables. In some cases these files can be used with spreadsheet software as well.
Population Schedules
Census population schedules (or "name schedules" or "manuscript census") are copies of the original questionnaires collected during each decennial census. They list the individual names and family information of the people enumerated. Unlike the statistics published soon after the census, the population schedules remain confidential for 72 years. 1930 is the most recent population schedule available.
- Online version: Heritage Quest [UCSD only]
- Microform versions:
Population schedules of the ninth census of the United States, 1870: California [XF 2761 reels 68-93]
Population schedules of the ninth census of the United States, 1870. New Hampshire [XF 2080] - Additional indexes:
1870 census, Tulare County, California : alphabetized, minimal listing with an enumeration of the Chinese population [F868.T8 B47 1982]
1870 Rhode Island census index : heads of households and other surnames in households index [F78 .D55 1985]
Contact
Need help? Use the Ask-A-Librarian reference service, or call us at (858) 822-0450 during Research Assistance Desk hours.
About the 1870 census
Highlights
- 9th decennial census
- US population: 39,818,449 (revised count)
- California population: 560,247
- First census taken after the 13th amendment abolished slavery.
- First census to fully record information on the black population.
Questions asked
Name; age; sex; race; occupation; value of real estate; value of personal estate; place of birth; whether parents were foreign born; month of birth if born within the year; month of marriage if married within the year; school attendance; literacy; whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic; male citizens 21 and over, and number of such persons denied the right to vote for other than rebellion. Supplemental schedules for persons who died during the year; paupers; prisoners.
For more information:
Map coverage of the 1870 census
For more information:
Statistics
Find all 1870 census publications in the Library.
Multi-year census compilations (compare across years): These sources tend to include statistics for large geographic areas (e.g. states), but can be very useful when comparing statistics over time.
Key publications:
|
Print available in the Library |
Online access |
|
Statistics of the Population: Tables I to VIII inclusive |
|
|
Vital Statistics of the United States |
|
|
The Statistics of the wealth and industry of the United States |
|
|
Compendium |
|
|
Statistical Atlas of the United States |